The newest additions to the Naval Service are a pair of former Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV) with the first of the cutters, expected to head out to sea this month based on an initial operating capability, writes Jehan Ashmore.
As previously reported, the names of the IPV’s which were acquired from the New Zealand Government in 2022, were officially announced as the LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Michael Martin. The ‘Lake’ class cutters were built in Whangarei in the north island of New Zealand, by BAE Systems Australia and were commissioned into the RNZN in 2009.
Afloat has inquired to clarify the previous names of the IPV’s and that of the newly renamed twins, which reflect a previous tradition in the Naval Service to name ships after admirable historical Irish females.
In addition the IPV’s also have been given their respective new P70 class pennant numbers. P71 has been assigned to the LÉ Aoibhinn (as above), the former HMZNS Rotoiti, while its twin, LÉ Gobnait, was formerly the HMZNS Pukaki, which is now the P72.
Each of the IPV’s / P70 class will have a core crew complement of 20, with additional capacity to take up to 16 personnel. The IPV’s are to operate in their new northern hemisphere career, specifically patrolling in the Irish Sea on the East and the south-east coasts. In a measure by the Irish Government is their primary role in patrolling fishery waters as a member of the EU and Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and other roles among them maritime surveillance operations.
In response to Afloat’s questions on the entry of the IPV’s, the Naval Service said they are currently working LÉ Aoibhinn up to Initial Operating Capability (IOC) and all going to plan we expect the IPV to proceed to sea towards the end of this month, on May 24. Once LÉ Aoibhinn goes through its IOC process, the IPV will then commence working up to Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The Naval Service added that, subject to successful recruitment and retention of personnel, it is planned to commence LÉ Gobnait’s IOC process and onwards to FOC.
Afloat also posed the question of which port will be used, and the Naval Service said that the Concept of Operations for the IPVs is for East Coast operations. This will include a Forward Operating Base (FOB) however, such a location is still to be confirmed.
The twins which replaced the decomissioned Peacock / P40 class pair LE Orla and LE Ciara (see scrapping story), will be formally named and commissioned later in the year.
